Crameri to lead Swiss women

New coach for Sochi’s bronze medallists

The Swiss women's national team celebrates after winning the bronze medal game at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Photo: Jeff Vinnick / HHOF-IIHF Images

ZURICH – Gian-Marco Crameri has been named head coach of the Swiss women’s national team on Tuesday. He takes over from René Kammerer, who retired after ten years following the team’s bronze medal win at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

The 41-year-old Crameri represented Switzerland in 130 international games with the men’s national team. He played in six IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships (five in the top division) between 1997 and 2002 and in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. He also won three Swiss championships during his professional career spanning 15 years in the National League A until 2008. In the last few years he has worked as a player-coach for his hometown club EHC St. Moritz in the fourth-highest league.

Crameri will start his new position within the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation in May.

“It’s a great honour for me to represent Swiss women’s hockey,” Crameri said. “We have a young and hungry team. The success in the last three years is no coincidence but based on diligence, hard work and a strong belief in themselves and the team. My predecessor René Kammerer did an outstanding job and I’m determined to continue it.”

During the last decade the Swiss team changed from a Division I nation to a team that can compete for medals, winning bronze at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Burlington, USA, and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.